Why the interior of the Dolphins’ offensive line will be key in 2026
The Miami Dolphins offensive line could be the team’s strongest unit.
Not only do they have a second-team All-Pro center in Aaron Brewer, there’s an ascending left tackle in Patrick Paul and on his opposite flank, Austin Jackson, a premiere run blocker when healthy.
The interior, however, could be what makes or breaks not only the offense but the team.
That’s because Miami’s two biggest questions come at right and left guard in Jonah Savaiinaea and Kadyn Proctor, respectively. With Savaiinaea, it’s about whether his switch to the right side will be the remedy for a rather lackluster rookie season.
“He seems more comfortable there,” coach Jeff Hafley said, later adding that offensive line coaches Zach Yenser and Matt Applebaum “seem to believe that he’s more comfortable there, but it’s also Year 2 for him so he’s going to be more comfortable.”
Savaiinaea had never played left guard until the Dolphins stuck him there last season. In fact, in college the 2025 second-round pick had lined up at every position on the offensive line except center and left guard. A return to right guard, a position in which he played the majority of his snaps, could further unlock the Dolphins’ rushing attack.
“It’s been really good,” Savaiinaea said. “It’s always good to move to your original spot, one that you played for a long time. But my mentality doesn’t change as it’s always what’s best for the team. As far as comfortability, there’s always room for improvement.”
Then there’s Proctor.
To say that the selection of the former Alabama standout at No. 12 was unpopular would be an understatement. The Dolphins not only traded back, they passed on safety Caleb Downs as well as local sensation Rueben Bain Jr., whose disruptiveness as an edge rusher helped the Hurricanes make a College Football Playoff National Championship game.
“Downs and Bain are marvelous players, and I understand the question and I think those guys will go on to be very successful in this league, no doubt about it,” Dolphins first-year general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said. “Again, we thought Proctor was rare. His height, weight, speed, production, the things that he can do on the football field for a man his size, he’s an outlier. There’s not many like him.”
Clearly Sullivan and Hafley were as high on Proctor than any prospect. He will play left guard at first — a new position to say the least — with the hope to eventually succeed Jackson at right tackle. Proctor projects as a mauling force, especially in the run game, but if the Dolphins fan base learned anything in 2025, it’s that position switches don’t come seamlessly. The 2026 first-round pick, however, remains confident in his abilities.
“I can play anywhere,” Proctor said, later adding that he’s “a powerful guy” who’s “quick off the ball.”
“The guards are more the post players,” Proctor continued. “They’ve got to get the double-team started. That’s what I prided myself on — getting it started so the center and left tackle can come in and clean up. I’m just focusing on that power and speed off the ball.”
Of course, health will always be a concern. Jackson, specifically, has played just 32 games since the 2022 season.
But if the Dolphins’ two experiments work and the injuries don’t mount, the franchise could not only have secured the interior of the offensive line for the foreseeable future but also have the dominant rushing attack that players like Paul expect.
Just ask the mammoth of a man what the new identity is, and he will respond rather plainly.
“Maul people,” Paul said. “Definitely move people, be obstructing and be a force for sure.”
